An End in Fire

A band of petty crooks has been scrabbling for a living in the hard, cold streets, struggling with rival groups and cops as they try to make a name for themselves without attracting the wrong kind of attention.

That’s all about to change.

They’ve just been contacted by a wealthy client who has an important job for them…an item he wants them to steal. He promises riches, fame, and future security.

They may find all that…but in the process, they will become embroiled in a struggle that has lasted for centuries, dealing with powers far greater than themselves.

They will fight to survive…but it may yet end in fire.

This is a game of mystery and crime set in modern times. The world, so far as you have always known, is pretty much our world…but there is something more in the shadows.

There will be elements of fantasy in this game, but the player characters are all regular humans caught in the middle of something big. You can certainly be capable and/or dangerous characters and will have the chance to demonstrate those elements, but you will nevertheless not be fully suited to the task before you. Characters may gain access to mystical artifacts or spell scrolls or such over the course of the game, but do not start with them and do not start with or gain inner mystical power.

I ask that you design characters who will willingly investigate events that seem above their level and keep going despite hardship.

Player characters are members of a small-time criminal band–more than a street gang, less than a crime family. They’ve established a sense of brotherhood among themselves, and have a variety of members.

I’d like us to aim for a group that is criminal but not psychopathic. The group may be willing to use violence to accomplish its goals, but these aren’t serial killers or casual murderers, nor do they engage in particularly deranged crimes (rape, etc.). These are criminals that are “bad guys” but still have an element that can let readers root for them and feel sympathy for them.

This story will contain violence but will not contain sexual situations.

For strengths/weaknesses, I prefer that the initial ones for a character be pretty wide in scope, so players can be sure to be able to apply them to tasks that come up.

My philosophy on challenges is that they are all intended to come to a result, one way or another, so there should never be a time when no one has enough cards to play to complete one.

Please Note: If a player leaves a game my intent is to keep their character around as an NPC to maintain character stories as best we can. If you would prefer your character die, get arrested, or otherwise leave the story please talk to me if it comes to that and I will work with you to do what is best for the story and for you.

I am aiming for 4-6 characters, but will run with less than 4 if it seems like it will work.